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The Horror Villains That May Have Shaped Stranger Things’ Vecna ( Photo Credit – Netflix )

Back in 2022, Stranger Things Season 4 dropped a real monster. This one was not just any creature from the Upside Down; it had serious horror roots. Fans met Vecna, the vine-wrapped villain who creeped through Hawkins like a nightmare. But if you looked closely, he felt oddly familiar. And no, it wasn’t déjà vu. Vecna is a walking tribute to horror legends, stitched together with precision and love for the genre’s golden age.

The most obvious influence? Freddy Krueger. Yep, the dream-haunting slasher from Wes Craven’s A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984). Vecna didn’t just resemble Freddy with his shredded skin and twisted mind games, but practically mirrored him. Both went after teens, attacked them inside their heads, and delivered kills that looked straight out of a fever dream. Remember Chrissy’s levitating death? That...

The UK’s largest celebration of horror culture is back, and it’s pulling out all the stops for its 10th anniversary. HorrorConUK returns to Rotherham’s Magna Science Adventure Centre on 17 and 18 May, bringing with it a weekend stacked with genre legends, film reunions, gore-fuelled festivities and a fanbase more alive than ever.

Photo: © Martin Brown for HorrorConUK

Now firmly established as a cornerstone of the UK horror calendar, the event has evolved from its fan-led beginnings into a global magnet for lovers of the macabre. This year’s edition sees the convention embrace its milestone with an ambitious guest list and a slate of immersive events that span films, art, cosplay, and community.

The headline guests for 2025 include a Hellraiser reunion, featuring cast from Clive Barker’s seminal franchise. With appearances from key Cenobites and behind-the-scenes contributors, the event marks a rare convergence of one of horror’s most enduring creations.

Since its release in 1997, Paul W.S. Anderson's Event Horizon has gained a cult following, becoming a classic in the horror sci-fi genre. The film, starring Sam Neill, Laurence Fishburne, and Joely Richardson, follows the rescue mission of the starship, the Event Horizon, when it reappears seven years after mysteriously vanishing. Utter insanity ensues as we learn that the ship has disappeared into an interdimensional hell-portal and come back sentient, able to possess, haunt, and even kill the unlucky crew sent to rescue it.

Now, nearly 30 years later, Event Horizon will be getting an all-new prequel comic series through Idw's new horror imprint Idw Dark. Titled Event Horizon: Dark Descent, the five-part comic series will be written by Christian Ward with art by Tristan Jones and color by Pip Martin.

Here's what we know about Dark Descent's plot according to IGN:

"Embracing the hard-r rating of the shocking movie,...

Plenty of A-listers have gotten their start in the world of horror, from Kevin Bacon in Friday the 13th to Jennifer Aniston in Leprechaun. But did you know that Bradley Cooper also starred in a horror film early in his acting career? He plays the lead role in Ryûhei Kitamura’s 2008 film Midnight Meat Train, an adaptation of Clive Barker’s 1984 short story of the same name.

In the film,

A struggling photographer meets the owner of an eminent art gallery in pursuit of a successful career. His obsession with uncovering humanity’s dark side as his debut project draws him to a serial killer who preys on late-night subway commuters.

Cooper plays that struggling photographer who quite literally goes into the belly of the beast searching for a new subject to impress his rich benefactor. I promise you have no idea where this film is going, and it is one wild ride.

Tales of masked killers and man-eating mutants are more associated with the world of film than literature, but if the success of horror writers like Stephen King and Clive Barker has taught us anything, it’s that a good story can transcend the limitations of a single medium. That’s why there are so many popular adaptations in the horror genre, with some of the most popular scary movies of all time having been based on existing short stories and novels.

With Eli Craig’s Clown in a Cornfield bringing Adam Cesare’s 2020 novel to the big screen this Friday, we’ve decided to come up with a list celebrating six horror movies that you may not have known were also adapted from books!

For the purposes of this list, we’ll be focusing on films with lesser-known literary origins, so you shouldn’t expect to see classics like Jaws,...

I’ll keep watching new Final Destination movies as long as they keep making them, but I’m personally much more supportive of heartfelt rip-offs than officially licensed sequels. After all, Star Wars began as a loving homage to the Flash Gordon serials, and even the long-running Friday the 13th series was originally meant to cash in on the slasher thrills of John Carpenter’s Halloween. However, these new properties ended up iterating on the stories that inspired them instead of simply regurgitating their tropes ad nauseum, and that’s why they’re so beloved today.

With that in mind, I think it’s about time for a modern filmmaker to properly remix the psychosexual scares of Hellraiser into something new. While there are quite a few enjoyable sequels in the fan-favorite series, Clive Barker’s diminishing involvement should be interpreted as a sign that it might be time to move on.

The "Hellraiser" movies, which originate from Clive Barker's "The Hellbound Heart" novella, have inflicted legendary suffering on their victims for almost 40 years. In that time, the franchise has traveled everywhere from New York City to medieval France to even outer space. Regardless of the location, however, one thing remains constant: The Hell Priest, aka Pinhead, and the Cenobites have such great sights to show anyone bold (or merely careless) enough to summon them using the Lament Configuration (a puzzle box with hellish powers).

In the original 1987 "Hellraiser" film, Frank Cotton (Sean Chapman) sets in motion the chain of events that befall his family at the hands of the Cenobites. However, all we learn about Frank is that he acquired the puzzle box, got punished, escaped from Hell, and rekindled an affair with his brother's wife while she delivered blood sacrifices to restore him. The time between him finding the...

“America is the final girl, and I hope she survives.”

Salem Horror Fest‘s eighth annual event kicked off last night at Salem’s Peabody Essex Museum, and festival manager Leslie Adams‘ brief opening statement — which concluded with the above quote — assured attendees that the event remains steadfast in its mission to cultivate a safe, inclusive, and fun community for genre fans.

This year’s festival is the first under the new leadership of Horror Arts Collective — formed by legacy staff members in the wake of founder Kay Lynch stepping down last year — but the team upholds the ethos instilled by Lynch, who cheered on her successors from the front row like a proud mom.

The new guard also upheld the tradition of kicking off with a memorable opening night headlined by a horror icon, with Hellraiser‘s Ashley Laurence serving as this year’s guest of honor. Media personality...

Second Sight Publishing recently announced "More Chills and Thrills" in the next Shook! horror anthology graphic novel Songs Of The Dark Sirens. It's due out this October from Second Sight Publishing and Dark Horse Comics, and I caught up with Second Sight Publishing's Bradley Golden for our latest Q&a, talking horror influences, upcoming titles, and advice for creators. We also have preview art from his upcoming haunted comic story, Get The F*Ck Out!, that you can check out below!

Where did your love of horror come from? Is there a particular film, book, or comic that made you a lifelong horror fan?

Bradley Golden: My love for horror stems from my childhood. As a child with a speech impediment, I didn’t have many friends. I had to rely on comics and horror movies to keep me company. I remember the first movie I ever saw was a B horror movie called House!

© DeAPlaneta, Sony Pictures & Avalon El contable 2 © Warner Bros

La esperada secuela de El contable saca al enigmático genio de las finanzas y las armas (Ben Affleck) de su escondite cuando un viejo conocido es asesinado, dejando un críptico mensaje para encontrarle. Al darse cuenta de que son necesarias medidas más extremas, Wolff pone en marcha un plan B: reclutar a su distanciado y muy letal hermano Brax (Jon Bernthal) para que le ayude.

Until Dawn © Sony Pictures

Tras el fenómeno de The Last of Us, Sony Pictures se apunta a la fiebre de las adaptaciones videojueguísticas con una de las del catálogo de PlayStation, Until Dawn, una experiencia de terror que bebe del slasher y usa el atractivo y juguetón recurso de los bucles temporales como mecánica. Un grupo de adolescentes se interna en un valle remoto para buscar respuestas sobre la desaparición de la hermana de una de ellas.

Francis Ford Coppola isn’t done with “Megalopolis.” After Quentin Tarantino wrote a novel version of his “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” feature (which is now getting a sequel from David Fincher), Coppola has announced that he is turning his 2024 film “Megalopolis” into a graphic novel.

The book will be written by Chris Ryall, who has adapted Stephen King, Clive Barker, and Harlan Ellison’s works as well. Coppola explains that while it’s inspired by the film, it will be much more than that.

“I was pleased to put the idea of a graphic novel in the competent hands of Chris Ryall with the idea that, although it was inspired by my film ‘Megalopolis,’ it didn’t necessarily have to be limited by it,” Coppola said in a statement to THR. “I hoped the graphic novel would take its own flight, with its own artists and writer so...

While some, or most, viewers left Francis Ford Coppola's latest film thinking they had just wasted two hours and 18 minutes of their free time, Coppola is doubling down on his divisive film. Megalopolis was nothing short of a wake-up call for the Apocalypse Now director, but instead of taking the time to think about why his 2024 film wasn't everyone's cup of tea, the director is retaliating against his recent Razzie win for Worst Director and throwing himself into making a sister story to the polarizing film. However, this time, viewers don't have to grapple with off-putting CGI.

The star-studded film received a hearty seven-minute standing ovation at its debut at Cannes, so imagine Coppola's surprise when wider audiences were displeased. Now, Coppola has announced that he will be taking his unappreciated story to print in a comic titled, Megalopolis: An Original Graphic Novel. In collaboration with writer Chris Ryall,...

Hell comes to Earth in the upcoming religious horror film Thorns! Starring Pinhead himself, Doug Bradley, and written/directed by Douglas Schulze, a mysterious signal from space is a harbinger of doom… We have an exclusive first look at the trailer below!

But first, check out the full synopsis:

An ex-priest working for NASA is sent to investigate a remote observatory that went silent after receiving a radio signal from deep space. He discovers that the signal has set in motion the biblical end of times.

Now, watch the official trailer! Schulze, who previously helmed films such as The Dark Below and Hellmaster, said about his new film:

“Thorns is an homage to classic era monster movies. Lots of Easter Eggs for horror fans of The Thing, Scanners, and, of course, Clive Barker’s Hellraiser. We spent all last year taking it to festivals such as Sitges, London Frightfest, Sweden’s Monster of Film,...

Francis Ford Coppola is doubling down on the perplexing Sci-Fi epic Megalopolis with a graphic novel adaptation of his original head-scratching story. Coppola famously spent decades dreaming of Megalopolis and used tens of millions of his money to fund the project’s production. Reactions to the film ranged from audiences saying it’s awful to “it’s so bad it’s good, like Leos Carax’s Annette.” Regardless of how you feel about Megalopolis, Coppola’s passion for the story of architect Cesar Catilina (Adam Driver) is admirable in its steadfast dedication to the premise.

The official synopsis for Megalopolis reads: “Megalopolis is a Roman Epic fable set in an imagined Modern America. The City of New Rome must change, causing conflict between Cesar Catilina, a genius artist who seeks to leap into a utopian, idealistic future, and his opposition, Mayor Franklyn Cicero, who remains committed to a regressive status quo,...

Megalopolis was one of the big swings of 2024, with Oscar-winning filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola putting decades of his life into its development and betting tens of millions of his own money on a project that he hoped would become an enduring part of his legacy.

It told the story of an obsessive architect Cesar Catilina (Adam Driver), who wanted to create a utopian city, but finds himself at odds with Mayor Franklyn Cicero (Giancarlo Esposito). The film was polarizing, to say the least. It failed to light up the box office and earned mixed reviews, but it certainly sparked conversation, becoming one of the most talked about movies in Hollywood last year.

Now, the Godfather filmmaker’s work will get a re-interpretation with Francis Ford Coppola’s Megalopolis: An Original Graphic Novel.

Writer Chris Ryall penned the book, after building a career adapting the works of authors such as Stephen King,...

Sarah Michelle Gellar, Elijah Wood and David Cronenberg are said to be joining the cast of horror sequel Ready Or Not 2, subtitled Here I Come.

What do Buffy, Frodo Baggins and the master of body horror have in common? Apparently, it’s the forthcoming sequel Ready Or Not 2, better known to its creators as Ready Or Not: Here I Come.

Already in production, the follow-up to the blackly comic 2019 horror thriller is still building up its impressive cast. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the latest additions include Sarah Michelle Gellar, Elijah Wood and legendary filmmaker David Cronenberg.

They’ll be joining Ant-Man actor Kathryn Newton (who joined in March) and returning star Samara Weaving in the horror sequel, which is set to continue the story of Grace (Weaving) who suffers through one of the bloodiest wedding days imaginable. Filmmaking collective Radio Silence are back to direct, along with screenwriters Gary Busick and R Christopher Murphy.

It ought to go without saying, but you cannot grade all video games on the same bell curve.

What’s acceptable for a modestly budgeted indie, for instance, might not pass muster in the Aaa arena. Meanwhile, those working on lucrative franchise IPs —beholden to micromanaging financiers and the whims of shareholders who’ve never once picked up a controller in their lives — aren’t always afforded the creative autonomy that a solo developer enjoys when toiling away on a pet project in their kitchen. Of course, blockbuster productions do conversely benefit from being far better resourced, far better staffed and far better promoted. So, there are pros and cons!

Price point is another thing that often factors into the equation and should absolutely be taken into account if you’re hoping to give new releases a fair shake. After all, it’d be silly to pit a $70 Naughty Dog...

For as much as people like to poke fun at kid-oriented genre productions these days, the fact is that there has never been a better time to be a child with an interest in horror. From less gruesome spin-offs like Jurassic World’s Chaos Theory to spooky PG-13 adaptations like Five Nights at Freddy’s, gateway horror is no longer limited to the dark corners of the Scholastic book fair. That’s also why we’ve been seeing some less-orthodox examples of the genre lately, such as Rodrigo Perez-Castro and Ricardo Curtis’s Night of the Zoopocalypse – an animated kids film produced by none other than Hellraiser creator, Clive Barker.

Barker is no stranger to kid-friendly fiction, having already published several fantasy novels as well as a handful of comic-books aimed towards children and young adults, but Zoopocalypse is the first major motion picture to be based on the author’s less disturbing work.

So, you've binged all the Stephen King novels you could. You've watched "The Shawshank Redemption" and "Stand By Me." You're paying mild attention to Edgar Wright's upcoming reboot of "The Running Man," and you know Tom Hiddleston ("Loki") will be in "The Life of Chuck." You even tried Max's "Salem's Lot" revival series. That didn't work out too well, huh? Well, we tried to warn you that these vamps were missing their fangs.

King has an approachable, easy-reading style that lets almost any reader rip through his imaginative horrors and his darkest fantasies at the pace of a cherry-red Plymouth Fury. Finding something that tickles that dark and terrible itch is surprisingly tricky, with many horror writers finding their own grim dark or heavy-prose niches. We're here to help, offering you, o Constant Reader, 15 terrific novels that will either satisfy fans of some of King's biggest and best stories,...

Bernard Rose's 1992 horror classic "Candyman," an American reimagining of Clive Barker's short story "The Forbidden," was about an ambitious graduate student named Helen (Virginia Madsen) who trekked into Chicago's infamous building project at Cabrini Green to investigate an urban legend that had persisted there. It seems that the denizens believed in a ghostly killer called Candyman who would appear behind you if you said his name five times into a mirror. Helen finds, quite shockingly, that the Candyman (Tony Todd) is very real. He is the vengeful spirit of a murdered Black man, a son of a slave, killed by a white mob after the end of the Civil War. His body was burned on the site of the Cabrini Green projects, and he now haunts those who summon him. 

"Candyman" is utterly terrifying, and the late Tony Todd is excellent in the role. He is menacing and sympathetic in turns.

The mind of a hedonistic criminal is our entry point into Clive Barker's 1986 horror novella, "The Hellbound Heart." This man, Frank Cotton, acquires a puzzle box which, once solved, supposedly morphs into a portal to an extradimensional pleasure realm. However, when Frank solves the puzzle, frightening, sadomasochistic creatures emerge and subject him to the extremes of the pleasure-pain spectrum. After being captured by these beings (who call themselves Cenobites), Frank finds a way to escape, return to Earth, and seek new excesses of depravity involving his brother's wife and his niece.

Such is the premise of Barker's "Hellraiser," which brought "The Hellbound Heart" to life in vivid, uncompromising shades. This 1987 film — which quickly spawned a popular horror franchise — explores extremity and excess, why humans crave it, and how the Cenobites deal it out. Barker imbues these beings with greater moral ambiguity in the initial "Hellraiser" films, describing them as "demons to some,...

Move over, Monster House, because there’s a new animated horror movie for kids in town. Based on a concept by horror master Clive Barker, directors and veteran animators Ricardo Curtis and Rodrigo Perez-Castro have brought Barker’s story to life in Night of the Zoopocalypse! While it’s rated PG, this is a film for all ages, perfect for kids and adults alike.

In the film, “After a meteor unleashes a virus that turns zoo animals into mutants, a mountain lion (David Harbour) and wolf (Gabbi Kosmidis) lead a team of surviving animals to stop the virus and rescue their zoo.“

In our exclusive featurette from Night of the Zoopocalypse, get a look at how the animating team drew inspiration from giallo films, especially when it came to lighting.

Watch now:

David Harbour (Stranger Things), Scott Thompson (The Kids In The Hall), Paul Sun-Hyung Lee (The Mandalorian), and Gabbi...

With his film Dread now screening on Nyk UK, director Anthnoy Diblasi reflects on how a personal car crash influenced the film, axe murder challenges and his close relationship with Clive Barker.

Dread is based on a Clive Barker short story—what drew you to this particular tale, and how did you approach adapting it for the screen?

I was drawn to it because it was Clive’s only non-supernatural story that he’d written up till that point… maybe even his only one now. And I was very close to the age of these characters when I adapted it. I knew their voice and what they were going through. And it was most important to me that I remained as faithful to the source material as possible. I had to expand it, of course, but I wanted to make sure his themes remained constant throughout the adaptation.

The film...

I’ve always found it amazing that Clive Barker’s The Hellbound Heart spawned such a successful franchise. On paper, it seems like a psychosexual story about demonic Bdsm would only connect with a niche audience, but the continued popularity of Hellraiser media proves otherwise.

That’s why it’s no surprise that Pinhead and the rest of the Order of the Gash eventually found a life of their own outside of Barker’s original work – and I’m not just talking about the franchise’s extended universe of comic-books, anthology novels and toys. Over the years, the Cenobites have made a series of non-canon appearances in a slew of other media, with some of them even popping up in works outside of the horror genre! With that in mind, we’ve decided to compile a list highlighting six Cenobite cameos from non-Hellraiser media.

For the purposes of this list,...

Currently, Henry Cavill is among the most sought-after actors in Hollywood, with projects like Superman and The Witcher to his name. But just like any other actor out there, even his road to stardom wasn’t easy. And long before he entered the A-list category of the industry, he took on a role that most fans have either forgotten or never even heard.

This was 2005’s Hellraiser: Hellworld, and even after two decades, this movie continues to haunt every loyal Henry Cavill fan.

Henry Cavill in a still from Hellraiser: Hellworld | Credits: Buena Vista Entertainment

Released straight to video, this was the eighth installment in the Hellraiser franchise. While it was supposed to bring a fresh and modern spin to the series, it just went downhill after its release.

Hellraiser: Hellworld can easily be the worst movie in Henry Cavill’s career

Before he stepped into the superhero genre with his iconic role of Superman,...

Scream Factory’s June home video line-up consists of 4K upgrades for a pair of deep cuts from masters of horror: George A. Romero‘s Monkey Shines and Clive Barker‘s Lord of Illusions.

Monkey Shines will be released on 4K Ulltra HD + Blu-ray on June 3.

The 1988 sci-fi horror film has been newly restored in 4K from the original negative with Dolby Vision.

Romero wrote the scripted, based on Michael Stewart‘s 1983 novel of the same name. Jason Beghe, Kate McNeil, John Pankow, Joyce Van Patten, Christine Forrest, Stephen Root, Stanley Tucci, and Janine Turner star.

Disc 1 – 4K Uhd:

4K Restoration From The Original Negative (new) Presented In Dolby Vision (Hdr-10 Compatible) Audio: DTS-hd Master Audio 5.1 & 2.0 Stereo Audio Commentary With Film Critic Eric Vespe And Author Daniel Kraus (new) Audio Commentary With Director And Writer George A. Romero

Disc 2 – Blu-ray:

4K Restoration From The Original Negative (new) Audio: DTS-hd Master...

As recently revealed at Fully Booked in Kentucky, Castle Bridge Media is proud to present a new a swamp horror novella reminiscent of Poppy Brite and Clive Barker. Child of Dark Water by E.G. Rand “Child of the Dark Water had me feeling unsettled right from chapter one and I loved it! The idea of the lurking paranormal waiting …

The post Coming 4/5: Terrifying Child of Dark Water by E.G. Rand appeared first on Horror News | Hnn.

In 1988, a horror anthology titled "Prime Evil: New Stories by the Masters of Modern Horror" was published, where most of the featured short stories were original to the collection. Many gripping stories were a part of this anthology, including Peter Straub's heartbreakingly poignant "The Juniper Tree" and Clive Barker's overlooked, introspective "Coming to Grief." But a late '80s horror anthology is incomplete without Stephen King, and sure enough, his horror short story "The Night Flier" graced the pages of this collection. King's writing in this super short, yet effective story is a tad different than his usual style: it is more chaotic without a method to ground it, but this ends up complimenting the fantastical nature of the story. After all, "The Night Flier" is a vampire tale, with King exclusively exploring tropes associated with this sub-genre.

Vampires don't feature as prominently in King's work as compared to,...

Best-selling genre author Clive Barker has brought us the horrors of Rawhead Rex, Hellraiser, Nightbreed, Candyman, Lord of Illusions, The Midnight Meat Train, Dread, and Books of Blood, among other things – and his latest project is the animated comedy Night of the Zoopocalypse. The film was given a wide theatrical release earlier this month (you can read a 7/10 review from JoBlo’s own Tyler Nichols at This Link), but it hasn’t exactly set the box office on fire, drawing in just $2 million. More viewers are likely to catch it when they can watch it in the comfort of their own homes – and they’ll have the chance to do that when the movie is given a Premium VOD release, courtesy of Viva Kids, on April 4th!

Night of the Zoopocalypse will be available to buy for $14.99 and rent for $6.99 from participating digital platforms, including Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV,...

Only deep-cut horror fans may know that there are 11 extant "Hellraiser" movies. Clive Barker kicked off the property by writing and directing 1987's "Hellraiser," itself based on Barker's novella "The Hellbound Heart." The film revolved around a mysterious wooden puzzle box -- the Lament Configuration -- that, when solved, could summon a cadre of terrifying Cenobites from a parallel dimension. The Cenobites are essentially undead sadomasochists who appear to torture their summoners to death. Being S&m junkies, however, the torture is meant to be the ultimate sexual experience. For them, pain and pleasure are one and the same.

In 1988, there was a theatrical followup titled "Hellbound: Hellraiser II." Directed by Tony Randel, the sequel took the sexual obsessions of the first movie into deeply surreal territory; a large portion of the sequel is set in Hell, a maze-like realm overseen by a sentient, building-sized obelisk called Leviathan. The third "Hellraiser" film,...

Spring has officially sprung, and the natural world is slowly waking up after a chilly winter hibernation. The season is associated with rebirth and regrowth, themes well-suited to horror.

This week’s ‘Stay Home, Watch Horror’ streaming picks are dedicated to springtime horror movies that capture the essence of the season, whether through more modern celebrations of spring break or spring’s ancient pagan roots. Here’s where to stream them this week.

For more Stay Home, Watch Horror picks, click here.

Apostle – Netflix

Writer/Director Gareth Evans brings every bit of the bone-crunching brutality of The Raid and The Raid 2 to his period folk horror film. The Guest’s Dan Stevens stars as Thomas, a man who travels to a remote island in 1905 to infiltrate the cult that’s kidnapped his sister for ransom. The cult leaders claim that the barren island was made fertile through blood sacrifice,...

Prepare for a mutant attack, as Night of the Zoopocalypse invades Premium Video on Demand on April 4 from Viva Kids.

Inspired by a concept from master of horror Clive Barker, the animated family film will be available to buy for $14.99 and rent for $6.99.

When chaos breaks loose at Colepepper Zoo, clever young wolf Gracie must team up with tough but softhearted mountain lion Dan to survive. With a ragtag crew—including Xavier the movie-buff lemur, Frida the fearless capybara, and Poot, the tiniest (but mightiest) pygmy hippo—these unlikely heroes must outwit a horde of zombie animals and reclaim their home.

David Harbour (“Stranger Things”), Scott Thompson (“The Kids in the Hall”), Paul Sun-Hyung Lee (“The Mandalorian”), and Gabbi Kosmidis (“Unicorn Academy”) lead the voice cast.

Veteran animators and story artists Ricardo Curtis (The Incredibles) and Rodrigo Perez-Castro (The Book of Life) co-direct from a script by James Kee (A Christmas Horror Story...

Nyx TV is preparing to take audiences on a psychological descent into darkness with a special event dedicated to Dread, the chilling 2009 adaptation of Clive Barker’s short story. On Friday, 21st March, horror fans will be treated to an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the film, deep-diving into its disturbing themes, its production, and the lasting impact of Barker’s work.

The night begins at 8:00 Pm with Dread: Confessions of Cast and Crew, an in-depth discussion featuring director Anthony Diblasi, alongside special insights from Barker himself. Known for Hellraiser and Books of Blood, Barker’s take on fear and obsession has left an undeniable mark on the genre, and Dread is one of his most unsettling stories brought to life.

At 9:00 Pm, Diblasi will introduce the film, offering his own reflections on the adaptation before audiences are plunged into its harrowing world at 9:05 Pm. The film follows...

Unlock the horror of Hellraiser with Fright-Rags‘ new apparel dedicated to the Clive Barker classic.

Suspiria Vilchez paints a collage of the film’s most iconic moments; Zachary Jackson Brown summons Pinhead and the rest of the Cenobites; Kirsty Cotton opens the puzzle box on a design by Justin Osbourn; and Uncle Frank’s suffering is legendary with gory art by Sam Coyne.

All four designs are printed on super soft 4.5oz 100% pre-shrunk ringspun cotton T-shirts for $33.

Vilchez’s artwork is also available on Comfort Colors tees ($34) and zip-up hoodies ($55), while Osbourn’s design also comes on women’s shirts ($33) and baseball tees ($40).

Based on Barker’s novella The Hellbound Heart, the 1987 horror film stars Andrew Robinson, Clare Higgins, Ashley Laurence, Sean Chapman, Oliver Smith, and Doug Bradley as Pinhead.

The post Fright-Rags Has Such Sights to Show You with New ‘Hellraiser’ Apparel appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

Pinhead might put his victims through more physical and mental anguish than any other bad guy in the genre, but he’s been through a literal hell of his own when it comes to the Hellraiser franchise. From the pen and direction of the all-time legend Clive Barker in the original Hellraiser to the bargain bin at Walmart—and at one point, some basement in Idaho where the even more horrendous Weinsteins slapped together Hellraiser: Revelations in the time it takes a lunch lady on meth to make a sloppy joe. Yet, in almost all of those situations, the character still delivered at least one classic moment of Pinhead wisdom—or at the very least, some ripping and tearing of the sweet, sweet flesh. Welcome to Best of the Bad Guys, where we celebrate the best of horror’s worst villains. On today’s episode, we’re highlighting the best...

“For a period, it really seemed like survival horror had died. But like the zombies that plague its hallways, it always gets back up. You cannot kill survival horror.”

So posits Doctoral Researcher, Kaytlin Blackmore, in TerrorBytes: The Evolution of Horror Gaming’s debut episode. It’s a rhapsodic reflection on how the genre in question has managed to endure across the generations, in the face of ever-shifting consumer tastes, adversarial cultural forces, and unfavourable regime changes on the publishing front. More importantly, though, it’s just a fundamentally warm and fuzzy sentiment that resonates throughout the entirety of this community-backed docuseries.

Constructed in a way that recalls the reverent originals that you often find while browsing Shudder (i.e. Horror’s Greatest or The 101 Scariest Horror Movie Moments of All Time), TerrorBytes is first & foremost an admiring look at survival horror over the ages. So rather than scrutinising the...

“Night of the Zoopocalypse” is a new animated sci-fi horror comedy feature, executive produced by writer Clive Barker and directed by Ricardo Curtis and Rodrigo Perez-Castro, starring Gabbi Kosmidis, Scott Thompson, Paul Sun-Hyung Lee and David Harbour, now playing in theaters:

“…an ordinary animal zoo is suddenly turned upside down when a meteor-borne virus…

“…turns most of its animals into zombie-like mutants…

“…leaving a small group of uninfected animals led by mountain lion ‘Dan’ (Harbour) and a wolf named ‘Gracie’ (Kosmidis)…

“…to try and survive long enough to save the planet…”

Click the images to enlarge…...

Clive Barker’s iconic name will always be synonymous with the horror genre thanks to the big-screen adaptations of his most popular stories, which include the must-see Hellraiser (1987) and the classic Candyman (1992). Today, though, the author and filmmaker’s brainchild, ZOOmbies, has found life in the new film Night of the Zoopocalypse, which currently boasts a perfect 100% Tomatometer rating against 19 reviews posted to Rotten Tomatoes.

Night of the Zoopocalypse's Popcornmeter, formerly the Rt audience score, and its CinemaScore were not available at the time this story was published. However, the critics are practically doting on the Barker-inspired flick from directors Ricardo Curtis and Rodrigo Perez-Castro. Morbidly Beautiful’s Stephanie Malone writes in her review (4/5 stars):

"A legitimate blast from beginning to end, I positively adore that a film like this exists, and I loved basking in its weird, spooky-yet-sweet neon glow."

Meanwhile, The Globe and Mail’s...

"Monsters have overrun the zoo..." Viva Pictures is releasing a fun animated comedy movie called Night of the Zoopocalypse in theaters this weekend (starting March 7th). This flick premiered at the 2024 Sitges Film Festival in Spain (where I also saw it) last year. It's "from the mind of Clive Barker" but it's actually a "horror" movie for kids - it's very tame and really all about how these animals save their zoo from monsters. It's good! Bring your kids and have an amusing time at the cinema. A wolf and mountain lion team up when a meteor unleashes a virus turning zoo animals into zombies. They join forces with other survivors to rescue the zoo and stop the deranged mutant leader from spreading the virus. It's a horror movie made for kids (rated PG!), about zoo animals who have to save the day and stop a zombie virus from taking over.

Felix the monkey is attacked by a creepy, crawly army of zombie tree frogs in the new clip from Night of the Zoopocalypse below.

Inspired by a concept from master of horror Clive Barker, the animated family film escapes into theaters tomorrow from Viva Pictures.

When chaos breaks loose at Colepepper Zoo, clever young wolf Gracie must team up with tough but softhearted mountain lion Dan to survive. With a ragtag crew—including Xavier the movie-buff lemur, Frida the fearless capybara, and Poot, the tiniest (but mightiest) pygmy hippo—these unlikely heroes must outwit a horde of zombie animals and reclaim their home.

David Harbour (“Stranger Things”), Scott Thompson (“The Kids in the Hall”), Paul Sun-Hyung Lee (“The Mandalorian”), and Gabbi Kosmidis (“Unicorn Academy”) lead the voice cast.

Veteran animators and story artists Ricardo Curtis (The Incredibles) and Rodrigo Perez-Castro (The Book of Life) co-direct from a script by James Kee...

Plot: When a meteor crashes into Colepepper Zoo, a virus that transforms the animals into slobbering zombie-like mutants is unleashed. Now, the unaffected animals must band together to stop it before it’s too late.

Review: It’s hard out there for animated films not being produced by either Disney or Dreamworks. It seems as though most are dismissed without having those two companies attached. Yet some of the best animation in recent years has come from smaller studios. So it’s exciting to see a new animated film releasing, with neither juggernaut attached, and featuring a name that is sure to raise some eyebrows: Clive Barker. That’s right, the Hellraiser creator has taken time away from the world of the macabre and is instead focusing on family animation with Night of the Zoopocalypse.

The story of Night of the Zoopocalypse follows Gracie, a wolf who wants to know her purpose both in life,...

“Night of the Zoopocalypse” is a new animated sci-fi horror comedy feature, executive produced by writer Clive Barker and directed by Ricardo Curtis and Rodrigo Perez-Castro, starring Gabbi Kosmidis, Scott Thompson, Paul Sun-Hyung Lee and David Harbour, releasing March 7, 2025 in theaters:

“…an ordinary animal zoo is suddenly turned upside down when a meteor-borne virus…

“…turns most of its animals into zombie-like mutants…

“…leaving a small group of uninfected animals led by mountain lion ‘Dan’ (Harbour) and a wolf named ‘Gracie’ (Kosmidis)…

“…to try and survive long enough to save the planet…”

Click the images to enlarge…...

It would be easy to write off Night of the Zoopocalypse as one of those stupid animated films cheaply made to generate a quick buck. To do that would be a mistake, though, because this comedy/horror film is a hilarious time and a solid animated movie for the whole family. Based on a concept from Hellraiser director Clive Barker, this tells a relatively exciting story of zoo animals facing a zombie crisis. This is worth a watch with a fast pace, solid animation, and a funny story.

Night of the Zoopocalypse Review

After a meteor containing a virus crashes into an ordinary zoo, a pack of wild animals are brought into a fight for their life as they work together to save the world. We focus our story on Gracie (Gabbi Kosmidis), a young timber wolf with a penchant for adventure. She leads a rag-tag group of animals, including...

A seemingly harmless squeaky toy leads to the reveal of Buzzy Zero, the source of the zombie outbreak, in a new clip from Night of the Zoopocalypse.

Watch it below, along with two more clips: one introducing “Stranger Things” star David Harbour as Dan the mountain lion and another featuring Poot, a sneaky pygmy hippo.

The animated family film is inspired by a concept from master of horror Clive Barker, who serves as executive producer.

When chaos breaks loose at Colepepper Zoo, clever young wolf Gracie must team up with tough but softhearted mountain lion Dan to survive. With a ragtag crew—including Xavier the movie-buff lemur, Frida the fearless capybara, and Poot, the tiniest (but mightiest) pygmy hippo—these unlikely heroes must outwit a horde of zombie animals and reclaim their home.

Veteran animators and story artists Ricardo Curtis (The Incredibles) and Rodrigo Perez-Castro (The Book of Life) co-direct...

“Night of the Zoopocalypse” is a new animated sci-fi horror comedy feature, executive produced by writer Clive Barker and directed by Ricardo Curtis and Rodrigo Perez-Castro, starring Gabbi Kosmidis, Scott Thompson, Paul Sun-Hyung Lee and David Harbour, releasing March 7, 2025 in theaters:

“…an ordinary animal zoo is suddenly turned upside down when a meteor-borne virus…

“…turns most of its animals into zombie-like mutants…

“…leaving a small group of uninfected animals led by mountain lion ‘Dan’ (Harbour) and a wolf named ‘Gracie’ (Kosmidis)…

“…to try and survive long enough to save the planet…”

Click the images to enlarge…...

In any conversation about the greatest film critics of all time, lists that would include such prominent voices as Paulene Kael and Leornard Maltin, would have to also include Roger Ebert. Alongside fellow Chicago film critic Gene Siskel, Ebert brought film reviews to a national audience on his various television shows, and his books of film criticism are some of the best of all time.

One of the things that made Roger Ebert one of the most entertaining film critics of all time was that it was equally interesting to hear him discuss films that he loved as it was to listen to him tear into the ones that he hated. One of the genres of movies that Ebert could be the harshest on were horror films, and his least favorite movies in the genre were often ones that cared more about being shocking and gross than being interesting.

Hellraiser...

Del Howison, proprietor of the horror shop Dark Delicacies and a staple of the Los Angeles horror community, will publish What Fresh Hell is This?: Dark Tales on March 4.

The 232-page collection of 17 short horror stories will be available in hardcover, trade paperback, and e-book from Crystal Lake Publishing.

What Fresh Hell Is This? brings together stories from across Howison’s prolific career, each one exploring the eerie and the macabre, examining humanity’s deepest fears and desires.

Drawing on his rich life experiences — from being baptized in a river and attending a private Christian college to his ownership of the famed Horror bookstore Dark Delicacies — Howison crafts tales that delve into the darkest corners of the human soul.

These tales push boundaries, blending the supernatural with psychological terror, and invite readers into worlds where the unimaginable becomes real. From paranormal happenings to supernatural horrors, Howison’s storytelling prowess...

Rafi Gavron and Shiloh Fernandez have joined the ensemble of Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey,” sources close to the actors confirm.

The Universal film’s previously announced cast members include Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, Lupita Nyong’o, Robert Pattinson, Charlize Theron, Benny Safdie, Jon Bernthal and John Leguizamo.

Universal shared in December that the film “is a mythic action epic shot across the world using brand new Imax film technology. The film brings Homer’s foundational saga to Imax film screens for the first time.”

Homer’s ancient Greek epic poem “The Odyssey” remains one of the oldest pieces of literature still read by modern audiences. It chronicles the story of Greek hero Odysseus during his tumultuous journey home following the Trojan War.

Gavron is best known for his role in “A Star is Born” for director Bradley Cooper, opposite Cooper and Lady Gaga. He began his career...

Compromises are made whenever art and industry collide. This is especially true for movies, as it takes an insane amount of resources to produce even the cheapest feature. That’s why producers often feel the need to protect their investment by wrestling control of a project away from “rogue” directors. Quality-wise, this almost invariably spells out doom for the film in question. However, the rise of home video has led to some filmmakers getting a second chance at sharing their vision with the world.

And while we’re all aware of famously superior director’s cuts of movies like Blade Runner and Little Shop of Horrors, not all filmmakers have been fortunate enough to revisit their forlorn projects. With that in mind, we’ve decided to compile a list highlighting six director’s cuts that horror fans are still waiting for. After all, it’s never too late for studios...

He played the Screwdriver Zombie in George A. Romero's Dawn of the Dead, composed the marvelous music for Creepshow and Day of the Dead, directed Tales from the Darkside: The Movie as well as eight episodes of the TV series (including an episode written by Stephen King), helmed 2009's Book of Blood film based on Clive Barker's short stories, and directed the 2000 Dune miniseries before going on to executive produce the latest two films based on Frank Herbert's seminal sci-fi book series. Suffice it to say that John Harrison has had an impressive and eclectic career in the realms of film and television, collaborating with legendary creators while adding his own unique vision to horror and sci-fi projects that have thrilled, chilled, and inspired viewers for decades.

Harrison's prolific creative spark is as active as ever in the 2020s. In addition to staying busy behind the...